Magnetic hydrant lock

ABSTRACT

A hydrant lock comprising an open-crown bonnet in combination with a closure cap to be seated thereon to enclose the bonnet, with the opening wall and cap base provided with spaced angled bores adapted to be aligned by engagement of teeth on the cap with notches in the crown. A central cylinder integral with the undersurface of the cap top slidably supports a sleeve having extensions pivotally linked to rods disposed in the cap bores adapted to partially enter the crown bores to interlock cap and crown. The cap, cylinder, links and rods are of nonmagnetic material and the sleeve of magnetic material whereby magnetic force applied to the top of the cap raises the sleeve along the cylinder, drawing the rods out of the crown bores to release the cap.

United States Patent 7 2] lnventor Carlos Manuel Quinones 8420 MiramarParkway, Miramar, Fla. 33023 [21] App1.No. 18,657 [22] Filed Mar. 11,1970 [45] Patented Dec. 14, 1971 [54] MAGNETIC HYDRANT LOCK 9 Claims,Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 137/296, 137/382, 220/55 MG, 292/144 [51] 1nt.Cl E03b 9/10,Fl6k /06 Field of Search 137/294, 296, 377, 382; 206/D1G. 33; 220/ M, 55L, 85 P, 55 MG; /276; 292/144 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 192,062 6/1877 Garratt 1371296 X 309,585 12/1884 Vogel...292/144 926,027 6/1909 Smith 137/296 928,483 711909 Wakeman 292/1442,118,233 5/1938 Ruggio 137/296 2,699,176 l/1955 Ucciardi [37/2962,928,272 3/1960 Statia 70/276 Primary ExaminerM. Cary Nelson AssistantExaminerRichard Gerard Attorney-Sydney B. Schlessel ABSTRACT: A hydrantlock comprising an open-crown bonnet in combination with a closure capto be seated thereon to enclose the bonnet, with the opening wall andcap base provided with spaced angled bores adapted to be aligned byengagement of teeth on the cap with notches in the crown. A centralcylinder integral with the undersurface of the cap top slidably supportsa sleeve having extensions pivotally linked to rods disposed in the capbores adapted to partially enter the crown bores to interlock cap andcrown. The cap, cylinder, links and rods are of nonmagnetic material andthe sleeve of magnetic material whereby magnetic force applied to thetop of the cap raises the sleeve along the cylinder, drawing the rodsout of the crown bores to release the cap.

PATENTEnnmMm 3.826361 SHEEI 2 OF 3 INVIL N'I UR, @qgws QU/NONES MAGNETICHYDRANT LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates generally to the field of hydrants which are presentlystrategically disposed, in the streets of cities, towns and the like, toprovide a readily accessible water supply for fire fighting, and forother purposes for which a ready water supply may be required ordesired, and has for its specific objective the provision of a closurecap member adapted to enclose and lock the interior of the hydrant toprevent unauthorized access to, and operation of, its valve mechanism,and yet readily and quickly removable by authorized personnel, such asfiremen and policemen by the ap lication to the closure cap member of astrong electromagnet whereby the magnetic lines of force operate shiftthe positions of the internal locking members to release the closure capfrom the hydrant. Such release of the closure cap can be accomplishedonly the application thereto of an electromagnet connected to a suitablesource of electric current, such as the battery of a fire truck, and itis obvious that such equipment will not readily be available tounauthorized persons. A further deterrent to unauthorized and unlawfulaccess to the internal mechanism of the hydrant is provided by thedisposition of the top of the hydrant bonnet flush with the top of theoperational valve nut, so that only a special kind of socket wrench canoperate the nut, once the closure cap has been removed.

2. Prior Art As presently constituted, hydrants in general use allemploy a valve nut, usually hexagonal in shape, which projects above thetop of the hydrant proper and is rotated to open the valve for thedischarge of water from the hydrant. This nut can be turned with the useof any standard type of regular or monkey wrench. As a consequencehydrants are constantly being operated illegally by unauthorizedpersons, vandals and even by children, with consequent damage. Further,since the operating nut is constantly exposed to the elements, dirt andgrime tend to accumulate in the surrounding crevices and, in inclementweather, rain and snow accumulate therein and thereafter turn into ice,thereby freezing the nut and preventing operation, which, inemergencies, can have serious consequences.

Numerous attempts have been made in the past to over come thesedisadvantages. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,l l8,233, there has beenproposed a guard for the operating nut comprising a bolted annular cap.In U.S. Pat. No. 2,699,176, a protector plate has been provided over theoperating nut, likewise secured by bolts. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,869,576,there has been provided a circular skirt member, operative by means of akey. Each of these devices is easily removable by unauthorized persons,with the use of ordinary tools, and hence have not solved the problem ofpreventing unlawful access to the hydrants. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No.2,762,386, an antifreeze cap has been provided to protect the operatingnut from the elements, but this, too, has its disadvantage, since it issecured to the hydrant with a screw and easily removable with ordinaryscrewdriver.

In short, the prior art has failed to provide a hydrant guard or lockwhich is both protective to the operating mechanism from exposure to theelements and consequent damage, as well as impervious to attack andremoval by unauthorized per sons equipped with mechanical tools.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aforementioned difficulties anddisadvantages are overcome by the present invention, which provides aclosure cap member for the hydrant which locks internally to the hydrantbonnet, thereby fully protecting the interior of the hydrant, and whichcan be unlocked therefrom only by the application of magnetic force tothe top of the cap, whereby the attraction of the magnetic lines offorce causes withdrawal of the internal locking members frominterengagement and thereby releasing the cap member for removal. Whilethe objects and advantage of the present invention are many, some of themore important ones should be mentioned.

It is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide ahydrant lock having a closure cap which is internally locked to thehydrant bonnet and releasable only by the exter nal application ofmagnetic force.

A second important object of my invention lies in the provision of ahydrant lock having a closure cap which is fully protective of theinternal mechanism of the hydrant from the elements.

A third important object of the invention lies in the provision of anhydrant lock which is tamperproof, and cannot be opened with the use ofmechanical tools.

A fourth important object of my invention lies in the provision of ahydrant lock which is so disposed as to prevent access to the operatingnut, even after removal of the closure cap, except with a special typeof socket wrench.

Still another important object of my invention lies in the provision ofa hydrant lock which is readily adapted for use with and upon presenttypes of hydrants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other salient objects,advantages and functional features of my invention, together with thenovel features of construction, composition and arrangement of parts,will become more readily apparent from an examination of the followingspecification, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken on the lines 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing removal of the closurecap by the employment of an electromagnet;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the withdrawal of theengaging rods of the closure cap from the hydrant bonnet;

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged cross-sectional fragmentary view showingthe seating engagement of the closure cap teeth in the slots of thebonnet crown;

FIG. 7 is a side view similar to FIG. 1, partly broken away and with theclosure cap removed, showing engagement of a socket wrench with thevalve nut;

FIG. 8 is a side view ofa modified embodiment of by invention inrelationship with a present form of hydrant;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but showing the modified embodimentwelded to the hydrant bonnet; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken on the lines 10-10ofFIG. 9.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout thedifferent views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Illustrative of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-7 my hydrant lock 10 comprises a circular capmember 12 removably cooperative with a bell-shaped base member or bonnet14 mounted upon and locked to the standpipe or barrel 16 of the hydrant,the latter containing the usual axially rotative valve shaft 18 for thecontrol of water leading from a water main through a discharge pipe inthe hydrant, the flow of which is controlled by the rotation of ahexagonal nut 20 secured to the top of the shaft 18, the shaft 18 beingrotatively mounted in a bushing 22, as by rivets 24, the bushing 22secured to a support member 26, as is well known in the art. Sine thepresent invention is restricted to the hydrant lock 10 alone, furtherdetails concerning the structure and operation of the hydrant areomitted, as they are well covered by existing art.

REferring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the bonnet 14 is hollow and is providedwith a central circular opening 28 at the top thereof, the upper edge ofwhich is on a line parallel with the top surface of the hexagonal nut20, as shown in FIG. 3. The wall 30 of the opening 28 is vertical and isprovided with a series of equally spaced bores 32 angled therein andopening into the surface of the wall 30, and with a series of equallyspaced notches 34 therein which open onto the outer surface of thebonnet 14, the wall 30 having alternate bores 32 and notches 34 aroundits circumference.

The cap member 12 defines central chamber 36 and is provided with acircular base 38 of reduced diameter, thereby forming an annular lip 40,the outer diameter of the base 38 being slightly smaller than thediameter of the opening 28, whereby the base 38 fits into the opening 28snugly, with the lip 40 in seated engagement with the outer surface ofthe bonnet 14, as shown in F IG. 2, to form a tight enclosure for theinterior of the hydrant.

The base 38 is of larger cross section that the rest of the cap 12,preferably triangular in cross section, and is provided with a series ofequally spaced bores 42 angled therethrough, opening both into the innerand outer surfaces of the base 38, the bores 42 adapted to come inregistry with the bores 32 in the wall 30 to define elongated bores whenthe cap 12 is seated on the bonnet 14, as shown in FIG; 2. The outersurface 44 of the base 38 is further provided peripherally with a seriesof equally spaced teeth 46 which are adapted to come into registry withand fit into the notches 34 in the wall 30 of the bonnet 14, as shown inFIG. 6, so that when the cap 12 is placed upon the bonnet 14 and rotateduntil the teeth 46 come into registry with the notches 34 the cap 12will seat upon the bonnet 14 with the respective bores 32 and 42 inregistry and aligned, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. i

A hollow cylinder 48 is provided integral with the interior surface 50of the cap 12, and is adapted to loosely enclose the hexagonal nut 20when the cap 12 is seated on the bonnet 14, as shown in FIG. 2. A sleeve52 is slidably mounted on the cylinder 48 and is prevented from slippingoff by an elastic O- ring 54 which is mounted on the cylinder 48 nearits base, thereby permitting a range of sliding movement of the sleeve52 along the cylinder 48, for the purposes which will hereinafter bedisclosed, The sleeve 52 is provided with a series of equally spaced andintegral extensions 56, which are equal in number to, and radiallydisposed to align with, the respective bores 42 in the base 38, and rods58 are pivotally connected to the extensions 52 by means of intermediatelinks 60, the rods 58 having an outer diameter slightly smaller than theinternal diameter of the bores 32 and 42, thereby permitting the rods 58to move freely into and out of the respective bores, but not tooloosely, the links 60 affording the rods 58 angular disposition withrespect to the extensions 56 as the position of the sleeve 52 on thecylinder 48 varies, as will be seen.

The critical features of my invention involve the nature of thematerials or composition thereof, since the locking and unlocking of thecap member 12 to and from the bonnet 14 is dependent upon magneticattraction, for which purpose an electromagnet 62 is required, as shownin FIG. 3, applied to the top of the cap member 12. For this reason thecap member 12, including its central cylinder 48, and the rods 58 andlinks 60, are made of a nonmagnetic material, either a metal such asaluminum, or a plastic or other type of nonmagnetic synthetic material,while the sleeve 52 with its extensions 56 are composed of a highlymagnetizable material, such as iron, which quickly loses its magneticproperties when the magnetic lines of force of a magnet are withdrawn orkilled. The structural composition of the remainder of the hydrant,including the bonnet 14, is immaterial, since it will in no way beafiected by the application of the electromagnet 62 to the cover 12.

While there are many suitable types of electromagnets on the markettoday, which may be equally operative with my invention, l have foundthat an electromagnet manufactured by Eriez Magnetics, of Erie, Pa.,under the trademark Selecto,"

model "SL" to be particularly effective and adequate for the purposes ofthe invention, since this model may be connected to a 12 v. or 1 l5.v.power source for activation. Such an electromagnet may be made availableto every firetruck as part of its regular equipment.

In the operation of my invention, the cap member 12 is normally lockedto the hydrant, as shown in FIG. 2, with the hydrant interior therebyclosed off and protected from the elements..ln case of fire and the needfor access to the hydrant water supply, an authorized person, such as afireman, removes the electromagnet from the firetruck and places it uponthe top of the cap 12, and then connects the electromagnet line to thetruck battery, and activates the electromagnet. Its magnetic lines offorce reach the sleeve 52 through the nonmagnetic cover of the cap 12,causing the sleeve 52 to be drawn to the top of the cylinder 48, therebydrawing the rods 58 out of engagement in the bores 32, as shown in FIG.3. The cap member 12 can then be lifted off the bonnet 14. In thisembodiment it is to be noted that the hexagonal nut 20 is disposed belowthe upper surface of the opening 28, and hence cannot be reached with anordinary type of wrench, but requires the use of a special type ofsocket wrench 64, such as shown in FIG. 7, the socket portion beinginternally hexagonal to fit the nut 20.

When the hydrant is no longer required the cap member 12 is once againlocked to the bonnet 14 by placing the cap 12 upon the bonnet l4 androtating it until the teeth 46 come into registry with the notches 34,whereupon the cap 12 will drop into place with the bores 42 aligned withthe bores 32. The power source for the electromagnet is then cut off andthe demagnetized sleeve 52 will drop down on the cylinder 48, causingthe rods 58 to enter the bores 32, thereby locking the cap 12 once againto the bonnet 14, as shown in FIG. 2.

Coming now to the modified embodiment shown by FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, myinvention can be applied to existing forms of hydrants, in which thebonnet 14' is mounted on the barrel l6 and the hexagonal nut 20 extendsopenly above its surface. In this modification there is provided a crown70 which is welded to the bonnet 14' as at 72, as shown in FIG. 9,thereby to form a base member 74 which is the equivalent of the bonnet14 in FIG. 1, with the cap member 12 and its internal structuresidentical with the cap member 12 and internal structures of FIGS. l-7,as shown in FIG. 10. THe crown 70 is provided with bores 76 and notches78 in the same manner as has heretofore been described, to correspondwith the respective bores 42 and teeth 46 of the cap 12.

In this embodiment it is to-be noted that the crown 70 is of a reducedheight, so that when the cap 12 is removed the hexagonal nut 20 extendsabove the surface of the crown 70 and is therefore operative with anystandard type of wrench. However, if it is desired the crown 70 may beof greater height so that the top of the crown 70 is on a place parallelwith the top of the hexagonal nut 20, thereby requiring in suchmodification the special type of socket wrench 64 as is required withthe embodiment of FIGS. l-7.

From the foregoing it is obvious that the embodiments shown anddescribed are by way of illustration and not of limitation, and thatvarious changes may be made in the construction, composition andarrangement of parts without limitation upon or departure from thespirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of the advantagesthereof inherent therein, all of which are claimed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In association with a hydrant of the type described, a hydrant lockcomprising a hollow bonnet provided with a crown having a centralopening therein defining a peripheral wall provided with a plurality ofspaced bores angled therein alternate with a plurality of spacednotches, in combination with a closure cap adapted to be seated upon thecrown to close the opening, the closure cap being hollow and providedwith a base of reduced outer diameter adapted to fit into the crownopening and thereby to define an annular lip adapted to abut the rim ofsaid opening, the base of the cap provided with a plurality of spacedbores angled therethrough, and disposed to align with the crown bores,alternating with a plurality of spaced teeth disposed around the outerperiphery of the base and adapted to be engaged in the crown notcheswhen the cap is seated upon the crown, to align the respective bores, ahollow cylinder centrally secured to the undersurface of the cap top anddepending therefrom, a sleeve slidably mounted on the cylinder andprovided with spaced extensions corresponding to the base bores,radially extending means within the cap comprising a rod slidablydisposed within each base bore and a link pivotally engaging each rod toone of said extensions, the rods adapted to partially enter the crownbores when said bores are aligned with the base bores, to interlock thecap to the crown, and means to retain the sleeve upon the cylinder, saidinterlocking rods being magnetically releasable from the crown bores.

2. A hydrant lock as described in claim 1, the means to retain thesleeve upon the cylinder comprising an elastic ring secured around thecylinder below the sleeve.

3. A hydrant lock as described in claim 2, the cylinder being of alength to loosely enclose the operating nut of the hydrant.

4. A hydrant lock as described in claim 3, the closure cap, cylinder,rods and links composed of a nonmagnetic material and the sleevecomposed of a highly magnetizable material.

5. A hydrant lock as described in claim 4, the top of the crown disposedon a plane parallel with the top surface of the operating nut of thehydrant.

6. A hydrant lock as described in claim 4, the top of the crown disposedon a plane below the top surface of the operatin g nut of the hydrant.

7. A hydrant lock as described in claim 4, the nonmagnetic materialbeing aluminum and the magnetizable material being ferrous.

8. A hydrant lock as described in claim 4, the nonmagnetic materialbeing plastic and the magnetizable material being ferrous.

9. A hydrant lock as described in claim 4, the hydrant crown beingunitarily distinct from the rest of the bonnet and adapted to be weldedthereto.

II t i i i

1. In association with a hydrant of the type described, a hydrant lockcomprising a hollow bonnet provided with a crown having a centralopening therein defining a peripheral wall provided with a plurality ofspaced bores angled therein alternate with a plurality of spacednotches, in combination with a closure cap adapted to be seated upon thecrown to close the opening, the closure cap being hollow and providedwith a base of reduced outer diameter adapted to fit into the crownopening and thereby to define an annular lip adapted to abut the rim ofsaid opening, the base of the cap provided with a plurality of spacedbores angled therethrough, and disposed to align with the crown bores,alternating with a plurality of spaced teeth disposed around the outerperiphery of the base and adapted to be engaged in the crown notcheswhen the cap is seated upon the crown, to align the respective bores, ahollow cylinder centrally secured to the undersurface of the cap top anddepending therefrom, a sleeve slidably mounted on the cylinder andprovided with spaced extensions corresponding to the base bores,radially extending means within the cap comprising a rod slidablydisposed within each base bore and a link pivotally engaging each rod toone of said extensions, the rods adapted to partially enter the crownbores when said bores are aligned with the base bores, to interlock thecap to the crown, and means to retain the sleeve upon the cylinder, saidinterlocking rods being magnetically releasable from the crown bores. 2.A hydrant lock as described in claim 1, the means to retain the sleeveupon the cylinder comprising an elastic ring secured around the cylinderbelow the sleeve.
 3. A hydrant lock as described in claim 2, thecylinder being of a length to loosely enclose the operating nut of thehydrant.
 4. A hydrant lock as described in claim 3, the closure cap,cylinder, rods and links composed of a nonmagnetic material and thesleeve composed of a highly magnetizable material.
 5. A hydrant lock asdescribed in claim 4, the top of the crown disposed on a plane parallelwith the top surface of the operating nut of the hydrant.
 6. A hydrantlock as described in claim 4, the top of the crown disposed on a planebelow the top surface of the operating nut of the hydrant.
 7. A hydrantlock as described in claim 4, the nonmagnetic material being aluminumand the magnetizable material being ferrous.
 8. A hydrant lock asdescribed in claim 4, the nonmagnetic material being plastic and themagnetizable material being ferrous.
 9. A hydrant lock as described inclaim 4, the hydrant crown being unitarily distinct from the rest of thebonnet and adapted to be welded thereto.